Universe Today
What is the Perfect Gift for Every Space Enthusiast? The Year in Space Calendar 2018!
Carnival of Space #539
Weekly Space Hangout - Dec 13, 2017: Emilio Enriquez and SETI's Breakthrough Listen Initiative
New Map Shows the Motion of all the Galaxies in Our Supercluster
An international team of astronomers has created the largest map of the movements of galaxies within our Supercluster to date.
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Breakthrough Listen is Going to Scan 'Oumuamua, You Know, Just to be Sure it's Just an Asteroid and Not a Spaceship.
Using the Greenbank Radio Telescope, Breakthrough Listen plans to "listen" to 'Oumuamua to see if there are any signs of alien transmissions.
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Messier 63 - the Sunflower Galaxy
Located in the Canes Venatici constellation, roughly 37 million light-years from Earth, is the spiral galaxy know as Messier 63 (aka. the Sunflower Galaxy).
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Astronomy Cast Ep. 469: Best Modern Sci Fi for the Science Lover - Part 1 Space Exploration
Too Big, Too Soon. Monster Black Hole Seen Shortly After the Big Bang
An international team of astronomers, using multiple observatories, have found the youngest and most distant quasar to date.
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The Dorado Constellation
Located in the southern skies is the constellation of Dorado, one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the IAU
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Earth and Venus are the Same Size, so Why Doesn't Venus Have a Magnetosphere? Maybe it Didn't Get Smashed Hard Enough
A new study lays out why Venus doiesn't have a magnetic field like Earth's. Basically, it may come down to the impact that formed the Moon.
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Astronauts in Trouble Will be Able to Press the "Take Me Home" Button
Massachusetts-based engineering company Draper recently filed a patent for a navigation system that will be able to bring astronauts home if they get in trouble
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The Space Station is Getting a New Gadget to Detect Space Debris
The Space Debris Sensor (SDS) aboard the International Space Station is allowing scientists to characterize the orbital debris environment
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Weekly Space Hangout - Dec. 6, 2017: Brian Koberlein and "Big Science"
Two new Super-Earths Discovered Around a Red Dwarf Star
While examining a previously-discovered exoplanet, an international team of astronomers discovered a second Super-Earth around the star.
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What is the Transit Method?
Of the many methods used to detect extra-solar planets, the most widely-used and effective is the Transit Photometry
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Astronomy Cast Ep. 468: Simulations for Science and Fun
Messier 62 - the NGC 6266 Globular Cluster
Located in the southern constellation of Ophiuchus, approximately 22,200 light-years from Earth, is the global cluster known as Messier 62.
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A New Survey Takes the Hubble Deep Field to the Next Level, Analyzing Distance and Properties of 1,600 Galaxies
A new survey using the ESO's Very Large Telescope found 72 never-before-seen galaxies in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field data.
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There Could be Hundreds More Icy Worlds with Life Than on Rocky Planets Out There in the Galaxy
According to a new study by members of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, there could be
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Juno Isn't Exactly Where it's Supposed To Be. The Flyby Anomaly is Back, But Why Does it Happen?
Using the Juno mission's orbit of Jupiter, a team of scientists has developed a possible explanation for the long-standing "flyby anomaly"
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Here Comes Comet Heinze for the Holidays
Yeah, we're still all waiting for that next great "Comet of the Century" to make its presence known. In the meantime, we've had a steady stream of good binocular comets over the past year both expected and new, including Comet C/2017 O1 ASASSN1 (name and link), 45/P Honda-Mrkos-Pajdušáková and Comet 41P Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák (links). Now, another newcomer Comet Heinze is set to bring 2017 in over the finish line.
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Oops, low energy LEDs are increasing light pollution
According to a new study by an international team of scientists, the widespread use of LED lights could be bad for the environment.
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The Genesis Project: Using Robotic Gene Factories to Seed the Galaxy with Life
Dr. Claudius Gros explains the purpose, intent, and technology behind Project Genesis, which seeks to seed "transiently habitable" exoplanets with life to jumpstart the evolutionary process.
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Weekly Space Hangout - Nov. 29, 2017: Dean Regas' "100 Things to See in the Night Sky"
Astronomers Think They Know Why Hot Jupiters Get So Enormous
A study team led from the University of Hawaii recently studied two inflated gas giants, and revealed a possible explanation as to why they are so "puffy".
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Carnival of Space #537
Every Time Lightning Strikes, Matter-Antimatter Annihilation Happens too
A new study from a team of Japanese researchers has shown that matter-antimatter annihilations happen as a result of lightning strikes.
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Astronomy Cast Ep. 467: Resonance
Messier 61- the NGC 4303 Barred Spiral Galaxy
Located in the Virgo cluster, roughly 52.5 million light-years from Earth, is the intermediate spiral galaxy known as Messier 61
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The Earth Does Stop the Occasional Neutrino
A new study by the IceCube collaboration has shown that Earth stops the occasional neutrino, thus confirming a prediction made by the Standard Model.
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The Next Mars Rover's Wheels Won't Get Torn Apart by the Red Planet
Scientists and engineers at NASA's Glenn Research Center have prepared a next-generation tire which will fare much better on Mars and other harsh environments.
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Project Lyra, a Mission to Chase Down that Interstellar Asteroid
Members of Project Lyra recently published a study advocating a mission to `Oumuamua, the first interstellar asteroid discovered to date.
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These Streaks on Mars Could be Flowing Sand, not Water
A new study from the U.S. Geological Survey has revealed that recurring slope lineae on Mars could be the result of granular flows and not flowing water.
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Galactic Panspermia: Interstellar Dust Could Transport Life from Star to Star
A new study by Arjun Berera, of the University of Edinburgh, has indicated that space dust may be a possible mechanism for panspermia
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Weekly Space Hangout - Nov. 22, 2017: Andy Weir and ARTEMIS
SpaceX Resuming Launches from Damaged Pad 40 on Dec. 4 with Station Resupply Flight for NASA; Covert Zuma Remains on Hold
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – After postponing last week's liftoff of the covert 'Zuma' spy satellite due to last minute concerns about the reliability of the payload fairing encapsulating it while poised for liftoff at KSC pad 39, SpaceX is set to at last resume launches from their previously damaged and now repaired Cape Canaveral pad 40 with a cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station (ISS) on Dec 4.
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Could Magnetic Sails Slow an Interstellar Spacecraft Enough?
A new study by Professor Claudius Gros - who proposed The Genesis Project - indicates how magnetic sails could be used to brake an interstellar mission.
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Book Review: Cosmology for the Curious
That Interstellar Asteroid is Probably Pretty Strange Looking
A new study by a team of international researchers shows that the interstellar asteroid `Oumuamua is pretty odd in terms of its appearance
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Carnival of Space #536
Astronomy Cast Ep. 466: Origins of Zero (0)
Messier 60 - the NGC 4649 Galaxy
Located in the Virgo constellation, roughly 55 million light-years from Earth, is the elliptical galaxy known as Messier 60 (or NGC 4649).
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Station Astronauts Unload Cygnus Science; Antares Launch Gallery
NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY, VA – Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are now busily unloading nearly four tons of science experiments, research gear, station equipment and crew supplies - following the spectacular launch of the Orbital ATK Antares rocket earlier this week on Sunday Nov. 12 from Virginia's eastern shore that propelled the Cygnus cargo freighter to an on time arrival two days later on Tuesday Nov. 14.
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Clandestine Zuma SpySat's SpaceX Liftoff Postponed Indefinitely to Resolve Payload Fairing Issue
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – Liftoff of the clandestine spy satellite codenamed 'Zuma' on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has been postponed indefinitely to resolve a lingering issue with the testing of a payload fairing for another customer.
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Planet With Lava Oceans Also has an Atmosphere, Says New Study
A new study by scientists at NASA JPL has revealed that 55 Cancri e is not a lava planet after all, but actually has a thick, Earth-like atmosphere.
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The Delphinus Constellation
The northern constellation of Delphinus, located near the celestial equator, is one of the original 48 constellations compiled by Ptolemy
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When James Webb Finally Reaches Space, Here's What it'll be Hunting
In a recent announcement, the STScI announced the first targets that the James Webb Space Telescope will be studying once its deployed
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Antarctica has a Huge Mantle Plume Beneath it, Which Might Explain Why its Ice Sheet is so Unstable
A new study led by researchers from NASA JPL has provided compelling evidence for the existence of a mantle plume beneath the Antarctic ice sheet.
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Carnival of Space #535
Ownerless Super Secret Zuma Spysat Set for Dark Veiled Dark Night SpaceX Blastoff and Land Landing Nov. 16: Watch Live
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – The super secret 'Zuma' spysat claimed by no U.S. government entity – not even the elusive NRO spy agency ! - and whose goals are veiled in virtually complete darkness– is poised for a dark of night blastoff on a SpaceX Falcon rocket Thursday evening, Nov. 16, from the Florida Space Coast. Update: Delayed to Friday 8 PM
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